Okas-shifting device



E. M. BUSSINGER AND J. WEISS.

GEAR SHIFTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILEDMAR. :1. 1918'. 1,31,;

Patented Sept. 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

GEAR SHIFHNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. n, 19m.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. M. BUSSINGER AND J. WEISS.

GEAR SHIFTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1918.

Patented Sept. :23, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

EUGENE BUSSINGER AND JOHN WEIS S, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GEAB-SHIFTING DEVICE.

have invented new and useful Improvements in Gear-Shifting Devices, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

Our present invention relates to a gear shifting device, and more particularly to shifting mechanism adapted for use upon automobiles and in other like connections where a changeable transmission and a clutch are employed.

The principal object of our invention 15 to provide a shifting device for the purposes above set forth which is to be constructed and-mounted in such a manner that the gear shifting lever as now usually employed can be entirely dispensed with and the setting to change the gears in the transmission will be accomplished through manual manipulation of a small lever or handle' located to be conveniently accessible to an operator handling the steering wheel of the vehicle.

Another object is to arrange the parts in such a way that even an inexperienced op erator can readily determine when proper setting of the parts has been accomplished for the desired speed of transmission, and with which structure the shifting of the gears is accomplished by release of the clutch. V

A still further object is to provide a shifter which can be set for the next desired change while the operation of the vehicle is con-. tinued, and with which arrangement of the parts the foot pressure upon the clutch pedal to release the clutch will accomplish shifting ofrthe parts which is given, the

parts being at the same time of such a contaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and 'in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in plan showing; the

structure of our invention as it will be em bodied with an automobile or like vehicle.

. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of F g. {1.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 23, 1919 Application filed March 11, 1918. Serial No. 221,833.

L Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view 'on th l1ne 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a steering wheel showing the fitting of the setting and control handle or lever.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view to better disclose the construction and the shape of the cam portion.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the lost motion connection by which the parts can be set when the clutch is released. v

In the drawings, where similar charan-tcys refer to similar parts throughout the views, A generally designates the frame structure of an automobile or motor vehicle which has vthe transmission and change speed gearing inclosed within the casing B, the clutch pedal C being mounted at a convenient point adjacent the forward end of the frame, and being connected with the clutch in any approved manner. A supporting frame D is mounted on the main frame A between the transmission casing and the clutch pedal. and it is on this frame D that the main parts of our invention are carried and supported. A steering wheel E is mounted on a steering post I, and these parts as well as the remaining portions of the vehicle are of substantially standard form and constrm-tion.

As has been stated, the frame portion D is carried by the main frame A. and the mounting of the same is in the present instance shown as being accomplished by the use of theibrackct members 1 to which the frame structure I) is connected by the use of bolts or in any other suitable manner. As shown, the frame structure D is made up of side bars and the cross bars 2 and 3, and that the structure may be adaptable for use upon vehicle frames of different width, it is perhaps desirable that slotted openings be provided for reception of the bolts by which this frame structure is mounted in conjunction with the bracket members'1,-as then adjustment of the parts can be inade so" that irrespective of the width of the main frame the frame portion ,1) can be mounted to be supported at the proper position.

The cross members 9 and 3 of the frame structure D have bearings provided substantially centrally therein, and a shaft G is mounted rcvol'u'bly and slidably within these hearings. A cam H is carried by the shaft G, and a shifting arm I is loosely Figs. 1 and 5.

mounted on the shaft, to have sliding movement, a key working in the keyway or groove 4 however acting to hold this shifting arm I against turning movement upon 'theshaft.

As the cam H is brought to an active posi-- a connection from the clutch pedal C to the motion increasing lever 5, and as the clutch pedal is pushed down, the lever a will be swung around its pivotal mounting to,

though the link (3, exert swinging force upon the arm I. and in consequence the shaft G will be turned to bring the cam portion H to substantially the. position shown in A spring 10 15 connected with the motion increasing lever 5 and with theframe. structure so that it normally resiliently exerts force upon this lever to return the. clutch pedal to the raised position and to at the same time swingthe arm l through certain-paths of movement that the shaft G is turned to dispose the cam portion H with the extensions thereof in upright relation as shown in Fig. 2. The motion increasing lever 5 has ail-extension 11 which is shaped to come to hearing engagement against the frame, structure when the desired moven'ient has been given to the lever 5. and thus the position'of the parts as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may be said to be the normal position.

and the lever 5, the sleeve 9 is internally screw-tln'eadedat one end as to be turned upon the screw-threaded rod portion 7, wlnle the rod portions 18 received 1n a sliding fit within the remaining end of the same, a pin 12 being passed through the sleeve and through the slotted opening of the. rod. portion 8 to give a lost motion connection at this oint. To allow for further adjustment, tie lever f) might be provided with a plurality of openings as shown at 13 for connection of the rod portion 7.

Substantially rectaugularly shaped gear -shifting membeis J and K, which are split or provided with the openings as indicated at 14, are. mounted witlrthe ends thereof adjacent the openings received through slide hearings in the frame structure D, and are so disposed that the shaft G and-the cam member H are'disposed within the openings 14. These gear shifting members J and K have gear shifting rods 15.nn'd 16 connected That :uljustment may he made of the. connection between the clutch-pedal C therewith and then connected to accomplish shifting of the transmission gears from neutralto reverse, and also into Iow,1 intermediate, andhigh positions, audit will thus be appreciated thatas the members Jaird Kareshifted to exert'pulling 0'1! {pushing force upon the rodsi15 and-16, the transmISSIOh. gearin will be correspondingly shifted and will be set in'desiredpositim.

The neutral. setting will be' accomplished, when the shifting membersJ -and K are dis-' posed in such relation that-the sha'ft --G is centered within the openings -14,; and therefore in the cam portion H, we'embo dy ea'm extensions 17 and 18 which are: of equal length in their projectionfrom theshaft'G' and which act to center the n1ernber J,-'while the extensions 19 and 20 are provided to give" a neutral setting to the shifting menrber 'K;

The connection to the shiftable gears -'df the transmission is soaecomplished that "the member Kis moved to swing the gearing,

to a reverse setting and tea setting for low or first speed, and to accomplish movement of'the member K, a cam extensionll is pro vided on one side of' the shaft G and; is so shaped that as the shaft is turned \vitl'rfthis extension 21 lined 'up with 'themember 5K,- it will en'ertbearing force. upon this neih her to shift-the same rear 'ardly and to thus accomplish pushingtoree upon the rod "16 and in consequence the transmission gearing will be set to accomplish a reverse-drive. A;

cam extension '20, and; when tliis cam extension acts uponthe 'ui Iuber'ICthe transmission gearing will be set for first or' low speed. The cam extensions 23 and 24 are provided on opposite sides. of' theshaft G and at such positions that-the may be brought into active relationwlth respect to ins-1 the shifting mem'ber J. and' these earn portions will actfto set the transmissionfor .As has been stated. and is clear'lvshowuure located, at diil'erent positions,alouglthel intermediate and high speed or direct drive.

by the drawings. the varimis 'camextensions lengths'ot' the shaft (i.'for the same mounted between the shifting-menibers 'J= and K. and this shaft-(l is-hmuuted t( rh ep eapable of sliding as .well as :reuiluble .movement. so that the various r'anrexten l.

sious can be broughtto the p'roper mo ns to'act upon the shifting members-J and l\".'.- Proper turning movement. imparted to shaft through the shifting arm T and theconnection to the-clutch pedal (hiaiulthat the entire control may be conveniutlyfl0 rated for the operator, it .isllesirable, that means he provided where it will be readily accessible from the steermgwheel to accomplish shiftingofille shaft (l longitudinal :tlirough the bearings of the clutch bars 2 and 3. and also itis essentialiiult provisirni be madefor shifting" of tl i e shaft o r.t-o1's 'et the-same to be shifted even while the shaft is,turncd to bring the cam portion H to the position shown in Fig. 1 where endwlse ,v'movement of the shaft is not permitted.

An operating rod is revolubly mounted in suitable bearings provided upon the frame andis extended to have its upper end projecting through the steering post-and above the steering wheel E, at which point fan operating lever or handle 26 is secured. An operating shaft 27 is mounted in suitable bearings provided upon the frame and is extended to have one end "thereof termi-' nate in a crank 28 adjacent the shaft'G. The operating rod 25 has a crank arm 29 thereon and a crank arm 30 is provided on the operating shaft 27 a connection being established between these crank arms 29 and 30 through a link' 31. TA coil spring 32 is mounted around the shaft G between the washers or plates 33 and 34, which are SllClably mounted on the shaft,"and collars 35 and 36, or other suitable abutments are provided on the shaft'to confine the washers or plates against movement toward the ends' of theshaft, while at the same time the movement of the washers toward each other, in which movement the spring 32 would be compressed, is not interfered with. A tubu-- 'lar member-37 is mounted about the spring 32 and the washers 33 and 34 are free to have sliding movement therein, stops 38 and 39 being provided at the ends of the sleeve or tubular member to abut against the washers 33-and 34 as this member is moved in line with the shaft G. Strap metal membars 40 and 41 are each connected pivotally with the tubular member 37, and the crank portion 28 of the operating shaft 27 is pivotally mounted through the free ends of these strap metal members whicli "are thus disposed as links connecting from the crank portion to the tubular member 37.

In the use of the device, it will be appreciated that the movement of the clutch pedal C will at all times cause the shaft G to be turned, and that the movement orshifting of the members J and K will be accomplished entirely by the setting of the shaft and the particular cam extensions are rendered active in the operative relation by gear shifting positions. Dial markings will also be provided, and thus the operator at all tim s has conveniently at hand the operating andle which can be shifted from one setting to another, and which will accurately indicate the exact setting ofthe part; The-operation of the gear shifting device is as follows:

Assuming that the parts have been assem bled in the manner as set forth in this description' and disclosed in the drawings, and that conncctionhas been made to the transmission gear shaft and to the clutch pedal a direct connection is established from this crank portion to the tubular member or slecve 37, the "sleeve will be moved in line with the length of the shaft G. This movement of the sleeve will cause the stops 3h or 39 to bear against the washers 33 or 34:, according tothe direction in which the sleeve is'moved, and in consequence bearing pressure will be exerted upon the spring to resiliently urge the shaftG to have move-' ment in line with and corresponding to the movement of the sleeve 37. \Vheu the cam portion H is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the shaft (i will be free to have movement with the sleeve, but when the parts are shifted to the relation shown in Fig. l. the cam portion will not allow cndwise shifting of the shaft at the immediate intervals, and in fact not until the parts are restored to the relation shown in Fig. 2, but under these circumstances shifting of the lever 26 will cause the spring 32 to be compressed and immediately the cam portion is again turned to be released from the engagement with .the end of the members J and K,'the resilient force upon the shaft will cause the same to move'e'idwisc through its bearing mountings in the cross mcmhcls 2 and W hen the desired setting has been given to the operating lever 26, and the clutch pedal C is pressed down to disengage the clutch, the arm I will 'he swung and consequently the shaft G will be given substantially aquarter turn which ,will shift the cam portion ll to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, where the alincd extensions thereof will engage with the members .l and K. This engagement of the cam extensions with ,the members-J and K will cause the transmission to be set in accordance with the indicati'on given by the position of the lever 26, and as the pedal C is again released and the clutch is permitted to rci ngagcfthc d ri ve through the transmission will he accomplished correspondingly. As the members J and K are not of great width adjacent the openings 14, it is not necessary that the clutch pedal 0 be-entirely released when it 7 their ends and then the resilient force of the spring 3:5 will cause the shaft G to be shift-.

ed endwise to the desired setting.

('hanges-in details may be'made without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention; but,

1. in a. gear shifting device, a shiftmcniher. a cam comprising a plurality of radially extending areuat-e actuating arms of various lengthsccrtain of which are disposed in staggered relation, said cam mounted to have sliding movement to bring different ones of said arms adjacent the shifting memher manuall 'setta-ble means for imparting sliding movement to thecam, means for rocking the cam when brought to a set position to actuate said shifting member, and a gear shifting rod associated with said shift ing member.

In a gear shifting device the combination with a shaft, of a shifting member, a cam comprising a plurality of radially ex- .tending arcuate actuating arms nqoun-ted upon said shaft, certain of said arms being of equal length and extending in diametrically opposed relation from opposite sides of the said shaft, the remainder of said actuating arms being of equal length and greater length than said first named arms and disposed in staggered relation with re speet to the others. means for shifting said shaft to bring certain of said arms-:uljacent said shifting member, and means for rocking said cam to operate said shifting member,

3. In a gear shifting device the combination with a shaft, of a shifting member,

a cam comprising a plurality of radially extending arcuate actuating arms mounted upon said shaft, certain of said arms being of equal length and extending in diametrically opposed relation from opposite sides of the said shaft, the remainder of said actuating arms being of equal len th and greater length than said first nam arms and disposed in staggered relation with respect to the others, means for shifting said shaft to bring certain of said arms adjacent said shifting member, and means for rocking said cam to operate said shifting member, and

means for returning said cam to its normal or starting position following the operation of said shifting member.

4. In a gear shifting device the combination with a. shaft, of a shifting member, a' cam having a compound face fixed on said shaft to be moved adjacent the shifting member, means for imparting sliding movement to the shaft to bring dlii'erent parts of the compound face of the cam adJacent the shifting member, a clutch pedal, :1, longitu-;

dinally extensible rod, connected to said clutch pedal, a plurality of pivotally mounted arms, one of said arms being connected to said longitudinally extensible rod, and another of said arms being connected to said shaft for rocking the shaft and said cam upon pivotal movement of said ,foot lever to rock the cam for actuating said shifting member.

5. In a gear shifting device the comlbination with a shaft, of a shifting member, a cam having a compound face fixed on said shaft to be moved adjacent the shifting member, means for imparting sliding movement to the shaft to bring different parts of lever.

EUGENE M. BUSSINGER. JOHN WEISS. 

